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Insights and expertise regarding hiring military for employers and veteran career tips for job seekers

How networking can land a federal job (Step 1)

October 1st, 2008

“Who you know” does make a difference, even for federal and government contractor jobs. The first step in landing a Federal Job is networking. A supervisor in an agency of interest is the ultimate contact and here is why:

He/she can tell you when they are hiring.

He/she can hire you directly, if they have the authority to do so.

He/she can hire you non-competitively if they are able to take advantage of the Veteran’s Hiring Programs.

But what if you don’t know a supervisor? First, ask your inner circle who they know in the Federal government and, if possible, for their contact information. Contact them via email to introduce yourself and tell them about your objectives and interests. Establish a writing friendship by asking about their job and agency. Ask them for ideas on career opportunities and who else they might know in their agency or others.

Second, write to or call an HR specialist to ask a question. You might be surprised at how much you insight you gain into your resume, upcoming announcements, job fairs, and more. Finally, never miss an opportunity to go to a job fair. Agencies that attend are serious about meeting you. Go prepared with a “sticky” job fair resume and dress the part.

This is the first post in my series on Federal Jobs. Let me know your feedback at The Inbox link on the upper left navigation, or leave a comment.